OP-ED: Toronto union indoctrinates educators with anti-white, anti-Israel propaganda
Sue-Ann Levy writes, "An American activist and writer was recently paid at least $20,000 US to spew dangerous comments about critical race theory to an audience of 100 elementary teachers."
Author: Sue-Ann Levy
An American activist and writer was recently paid at least $20,000 US to spew dangerous comments about critical race theory, Jews and white supremacy to an audience of 100 mostly black elementary teachers with the Toronto District School Board.
Tim Wise, who is a self-loathing white Jew who clearly hates U.S. President Donald Trump, his Cabinet picks and even Trump’s son Barron judging from his toxic and boorish tweets on X, was the keynote speaker at an anti-racism conference organized by the Elementary Teachers of Toronto) in early April.
The conference brochure said it was a “powerful gathering” of educators, activists and community leaders committed to dismantling anti-Black racism and fostering “truly inclusive learning environments.”
Except if you’re a Jewish teacher or student in a TDSB school.
Elementary Teachers of Toronto vice president Nigel Bariffe, known for his virulent anti-Semitism, particularly since the atrocities of Oct. 7, organized the full-day conference at York University on which no money was spared for speakers and meals.
A transcript of Wise’s talk was obtained by True North.
Wise — a Senior Fellow at the African American Policy Forum (a social justice think tank which pushes Critical Race Theory) — spent much of his talk expounding on the virtues of CRT.
He reiterated the predictable anti-black racism tropes that the school system is “set up for inequality” by over-disciplining black students (suggesting they are targeted for suspensions and expulsions and not for their bad behavior); by not funding all schools the same and because parents with money can invest in tutoring for their kids.
Here’s where he got downright ridiculous with his upside-down thinking.
Wise insisted that the idea of meritocracy is bad because if black students don’t make it, they will struggle and “internalize” that something is wrong with them.
By pushing the “ubiquitous idea” that if you work hard, you can make it, it suggests that everything students come from is “broken” and reinforces stigmas, he said.
I would argue that CRT by another name has infiltrated the school system in Canada, particularly in school boards like the TDSB and other woke boards in Ontario.
It is couched in anti-black racism rhetoric and has succeeded in dumbing down the curriculum, ensuring many students now produce mediocre or failing results.
Since suspensions and expulsions have been eliminated in the TDSB, violence is out of control. Because there are no consequences, assaults and drug use are rampant in Toronto schools.
But Wise said he thinks CRT does not perpetuate the victim mentality — that it is “empowering.”
”You have to push back on attacks on CRT…CRT is not the problem,” he said.
Wise’s radical ideology is divisive, and racist and pushes an America (and Canada) where there are no standards for academic behaviour and no morals providing kids boundaries. It absolutely characterizes black students as victims.
Why should they be encouraged to go to school at all?
It seems nothing has been learned and no changes have been made since much-beloved teacher Richard Bilkzsto committed suicide two summers ago after being mocked and labelled a white supremacist by a DEI race grifter on contract with the TDSB.
Little wonder TDSB trustees refuse to release the $100,000 report done on Bilkzsto’s suicide.
It is clear to me that CRT and DEI, which also labels Jews as white supremacists, have contributed to the rabid rise in anti-Semitism in the TDSB and other Ontario boards.
Bariffe ensured that his obsession with Israel was put on the agenda when he asked Wise how to deal with anti-black and anti-Palestinian racism intersecting in TDSB classrooms.
There is no anti-Palestinian racism but the unions and Marxist trustees would have you believe it is as abhorrent and pervasive as the spate of anti-Semitic acts on the board.
Wise responded that he identifies as an anti-Zionist Jew who also detests the state of Israel. He told the group he believes the Jewish state runs “counter to the best principles” of Judaism and does not believe Israel is particularly good for Jews.
He did not indicate why.
But his comments were certain to have pleased Bariffe who led students on a controversial Grassy Narrows field trip last September which turned into a Jew hate fest.
After that field trip — when the controversy made headlines — Bariffe took to social media to accuse Jewish advocacy groups of “spying” on students and teachers.
He never apologized for his anti-Semitic remarks. In fact, a few months ago, he doubled down.
Wise claimed to the group — many of whom have likely already heard ridiculous lies about Israel — that anti-Palestine sentiment comes from “white supremacy” and that Israel was created on the basis of white colonialism.
”Racism has its roots in white supremacy,” he said, adding he doesn’t feel represented by the modern state of Israel.
”A critique of Israel is not a critique of Judaism,” he insisted.
It’s clear Wise has no clue what he’s talking about.
For one thing, Israelis are not just white. They have come from Iran, from Ethiopia, from Morocco and other Arab countries and they live side by side in the Jewish state with Arabs, Druze and Muslim inhabitants.
But it suited his white supremacy mantra and his pocketbook.
He even implied that many Jews in the United States have been able to move up the economic ladder and enjoy a life of “white supremacy.”
Yes through hard work, not DEI!
That this anti-white and anti-Semitic hate is considered training and education by Toronto’s elementary teachers union borders on obscene.
That the union would spend members dues to indoctrinate a select few should upset all members, particularly those simply trying to do their jobs.
That ETT would bring in an American at great expense to spew his anti-white B.S. tells me that something very rotten has been permitted to fester in his union and likely all the others.
If education minister Paul Calandra truly means it about keeping politics out of the classroom, he needs to act on this toxic agenda and fast.